Child migrants need ‘compassionate solutions’ – Ban

Deeply concerned by the “urgent humanitarian
situation” of unaccompanied child migrants from Central
America, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for
Governments of countries where the children start, continue
or finish their journeys, to protect their dignity and human
rights.

“Unaccompanied minors, including those under
seven years of age, are making this dangerous journey, often
relying on unscrupulous human smuggling networks that expose
them to harm, exploitation and abuse,” Mr. Ban said in a
message to the Conference on Unaccompanied Child Migrants,
in the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa.

The message was
delivered by the United Nations Resident Coordinator,
Consuelo Vidal, on behalf of Mr. Ban, who is currently
wrapping-up a visit to Haiti and the Dominican
Republic.

In addition to the UN and Honduras, the two-day
international conference, which kicked of today, includes
representatives from El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and the
United States, as well as the Organization of American
States (OAS).

According to information from the Honduran
officials, there were 2,700 Honduran migrant children in the
United States last September. By June of this year, there
were more than 13,000. In all, an estimated 52,000 children
were caught crossing the United States border since October,
most of them from Central America, based on figures in media
reports.

Last year, the UN held a high-level Dialogue on
International Migration and Development to identify concrete
measures to strengthen cooperation and enhance the benefits
of international migration for migrants and countries, while
reducing its negative implications.

In its unanimously
adopted declaration document, the 193 Member States
“reaffirmed the need to promote and protect effectively
the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants,
regardless of their migration status, especially those of
women and children.”

Citing this passage, Mr. Ban issued
a plea for compassionate and comprehensive ways to ease the
plight of child migrants: “I therefore call upon the
Governments of the countries concerned, whether of origin,
transit or destination, to urgently protect the human rights
of migrant children, most importantly their life and
physical integrity as laid out in relevant international
legal standards.”

Raising concerns about human
trafficking of minors, Mr. Ban called for the sensitizing
both parents and children about the dangers of “irregular,
un-planned migration” and about relying too often on
inaccurate claims and information.

He also noted the
importance of better understanding and addressing the root
causes behind the current phenomenon.

Poverty and
inequality are longstanding issues in the region, he said,
but we need to also grapple with insecurity and the role of
criminal groups thriving in contexts of weak institutions,
poor rule of law and impunity.

“Leaders from Central
America have drawn repeated attention to this security
challenge and have requested international support,” Mr.
Ban said in his message. “We must all recognize that we
have a vested interest in providing such support.”

As
the plight of unaccompanied minors from Central America
arriving at the US border continues to spark debate, the UN
Refugee Agency (UNHCR) recently issued its latest
report,Children on the Run, which unveils the humanitarian
impact of the situation by analyzing the reasons that 404
unaccompanied children gave to a team of researchers for why
they left their homes. The report also makes recommendations
for a way forward.

Just last week, the agency expressed
concern over the rising number of children and families
leaving their home countries in Central America and urged
all countries in the region to adopt a robust humanitarian
response that is based on fundamental protection principles.
This response, UNHCR said, should include efforts to address
the root causes of this movement; to prevent and respond to
human trafficking; and to meet the needs of those children
who may be victims of persecution or torture.

“We
recognize the enormous challenges facing the US and other
countries as a result of this large movement of people,”
said Shelly Pitterman, UNHCR’s Regional Representative in
the United States. “We’re witnessing a complex situation
in which children are leaving home for a variety of reasons,
including poverty, the desire to join family, and the
growing influence of trafficking networks.”

And as
indicated in the UNHCR study, within this movement there re
also children who are fleeing situations of violence at the
hands of transnational organized criminal groups and
powerful local gangs.

UNHCR therefore urged a
comprehensive response aimed at preventing the need for such
movement and addressing the best interests of the children
who have already left. Development agencies, human rights
actors, and donor Governments must help the countries of
Central America analyze and address the poverty,
lawlessness, and other factors that force people to seek a
better life or to escape harm. At the same time, children
who have been trafficked or who fear persecution or torture
need to be given the opportunity to tell their stories and
have their best interests determined. “Those fleeing
violence and persecution,” said Ms. Pitterman, “will
require access to asylum determination procedures and will
need long-term protection. Others will be able to return
home and should be assisted with
re-integration.”

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